An independent scientist’s observations on society, technology, energy, science and the environment. “Modern science has been a voyage into the unknown, with a lesson in humility waiting at every stop. Many passengers would rather have stayed home.” – Carl Sagan

Looking for a particular blog post…

Last week, whilst reading the usual nuclear energy blogs and news sites, I found an interesting article about fossil-fired energy plants being forced to shut down under high temperature conditions. Now, this is a significant comeuppance for those who are quick to point out that nuclear power plants have been forced to shut down in the past to avoid excessively high water discharge into environmental systems.

But, now, I can’t seem to find the post.

Does anyone recognise what I’m talking about? I’d appreciate it, if you could find the link for me.

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This was an article from Canada.com that Joffan linked to in a comment over at We Support Lee. The article is quite good and details high electricity demand in a heatwave in Alberta.

The electricity crunch forced AESO to import power on Monday from British Columbia and came only a few days after Albertans soaked up a record amount of electricity last Thursday, 9,321 megawatts.

The soaring mercury has put air conditioners and irrigation systems on overdrive, and contributed to Albertans smashing electricity consumption records four times in the past three weeks alone.

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Font: ****New peaks were recorded on July 5, 12, 18 and 19, just a few of the sizzling days that have spurred prices to max out at the legislated ceiling 20 times so far this summer.

It also raises more questions about whether Alberta’s electricity system, facing a transmission shortfall, can handle the strains of a booming population or whether brownouts and blackouts could become a summer norm — as was the case a year ago

The article cites lack of transmission line capacity as a culprit in the power shortage, but also says,

Monday’s electricity crisis, meanwhile, was sparked after three coal-fired generating stations — Sheerness #2, Genesee #1 and Battle River #3 — all tripped up due to the crippling summer heat and were forced offline to cool down. Together, the three stations produce about 900 MW.